Aiming at taking growing competition head-on, Air India is evaluating leasing fuel- efficient airplanes like Airbus A-320 neos for itself and Boeing 737 Max for its subsidiary Air India Express over the next three to six years.

Several flights to Dubai would be affected for 80 days from Thursday due to the closure of two runways for upgrade, with Jet Airways and Air India Express announcing shifting of most of their operations to neighbouring Sharjah and revising timings of some flights.

The proposed 'Air Kerala' is unlikely to make a dent in the market-share of Air India's international budget arm Air India Express, which hopes to post operating profit next fiscal, airline sources said.

"The turnaround plan of Air India of which AIE is a subsidiary, envisages increase in the fleet strength of AIE from the present 21 to 36 aircraft by March 2018," he told the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour.

Reflecting concerns of members, Finance Minister P Chidambaram Friday said in the Lok Sabha he was not happy with implementation of Air India's turnaround plan, but is injecting Rs 2,000 crore to keep the national carrier afloat to check any spurt in fares.

Air India Express has sacked an employee and ordered penal action against three others after a probe found them guilty of discrimination and favouritism against Delhi-based cabin crew during the last six months.